Description
Cat's eye is a variety of quartz and resembles tiger's eye and falcon's eye. However, the inclusions consist of amphibolite or serpentine asbestos, which gives the stone its beautiful cat's eye effect after cutting, with shades of white, gray, and green. The names of these quartzes have been common since 1876. They are based on the characteristic color and sparkling luster. Cat's eyes were considered the protectors of farmers and ranchers and served as a talisman. In earlier centuries, cat's eyes were prized gemstones, combined with diamonds. After the discovery of large deposits in South Africa, their value rapidly declined. Cat's eye is one of the "nine gemstones" in the Thai Order of the Nine Gems. The deposits of cat's eyes and falcon's eyes in South Africa are world-famous. The minerals have been mined here since 1876 near Griaquatown, Orange River, in the Door Massif. They form layers of solid, layered jasper slate rocks, tens of centimeters thick. Tiger's eye later became known in other states as well. Tiger's eyes have also been found in Mexico and Western Australia, but here the inclusions are goethite or hematite and are called tiger iron. Recently, tiger's eyes have also been found in China, India, and Myanmar. Falcon's eyes are essentially unaltered fragments of Riebeckite or Crossite. Deposits have been found in Sri Lanka, India, the United States, Brazil, and Germany (Fichtel Mountains).
